Wandering in Darkness

Narrative and the Problem of Suffering

Eleonore Stump

Draws together philosophical, religious, and scientific perspectives on the human condition

Offers a way to make sense of existence in a world of suffering

The magnum opus of a leading figure in the philosophy of religion

Demonstrates the continuing value of Aquinas's theodicy for philosophers and theologians today

Features illuminating exegeses of central biblical narratives

Wandering in Darkness

Narrative and the Problem of Suffering

Eleonore Stump

Description

Only the most naive or tendentious among us would deny the extent and intensity of suffering in the world. Can one hold, consistently with the common view of suffering in the world, that there is an omniscient, omnipotent, perfectly good God? This book argues that one can.

Wandering in Darkness first presents the moral psychology and value theory within which one typical traditional theodicy, namely, that of Thomas Aquinas, is embedded. It explicates Aquinas's account of the good for human beings, including the nature of love and union among persons. Eleonore Stump also makes use of developments in neurobiology and developmental psychology to illuminate the nature of such union. Stump then turns to an examination of narratives. In a methodological
section focused on epistemological issues, the book uses recent research involving autism spectrum disorder to argue that some philosophical problems are best considered in the context of narratives. Using the methodology argued for, the book gives detailed, innovative exegeses of the stories of Job, Samson, Abraham and Isaac, and Mary of Bethany.In the context of these stories and against the backdrop of Aquinas's other views, Stump presents Aquinas's own theodicy, and shows that Aquinas's theodicy gives a powerful explanation for God's allowing suffering. She concludes by arguing that this explanation constitutes a consistent and cogent defense for the problem of suffering.

Wandering in Darkness

Narrative and the Problem of Suffering

Eleonore Stump

Table of Contents

IncipitPart I: The Nature of the Project 1. Suffering, Theodicy, and Defense2. Philosophy and Narrative3. Narrative as a Means of Knowledge: Francis and Dominic4. Narrative and the Knowledge of PersonsPart II: The World at Large: Love and Loneliness 5. The Nature of Love6. Union, Presence, and Omnipresence7. Willed Loneliness8. Other-worldly RedemptionPart III: The World of the Stories: Suffering in Particular 9. The Story of Job: Suffering and the Second-personal10. The Story of Samson: Self-Destroying Evil11. The Story of Abraham: The Desires of the Heart12. The Story of Mary of Bethany: Heartbrokenness and ShamePart IV: Other-worldly Theodicy: What We Care About in a Defense13. Theodicy in Another World14. What We Care About: the Desires of the Heart15. The Defense of the Defense: Suffering, Flourishing, and the Desires of the HeartDesinit

Wandering in Darkness

Narrative and the Problem of Suffering

Eleonore Stump

Author Information

Eleonore Stump is The Robert J. Henle, SJ, Professor of Philosophy at Saint Louis University, where she has taught since 1992. She received a Ph.D. in medieval studies and medieval philosophy from Cornell University in 1975.